Q: failed emission test at Division of motor Vehicle

asked by on August 26, 2016

hi, I took my 2004 toyota corolla to the DMV , in the vehicle inspection report says check engine light failed, tampering: pass, visible smoke: pass, liquid leak: pass, indicator light: failed, Misc emissions: pass.

so i would assume with this test the catalytic converter is ok? the catalytic converter i visually see no holes no discoloration or leaks. that the reason the engine light turns on might be a faulty oxygen sensor . in the report it lists 3 codes p0420, p0133, p0171. in that order. can you please tell me what might be the problem? and an estimate of what might be the cost to fix it...thanks

My car has 180000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Check Engine Light is on Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

Hey there. The three different Check Engine codes you mentioned (P0420, P0133, and P0171) would need to be diagnosed first to see why they are stored in computer memory. You will need the mechanic clear the codes and test them in order to have each addressed. With the Check Engine cleared, you should be able to pass the emissions test.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Opinion on installing subwoofers in a car
It turns out the worst sounds are the low-frequency ones. These can be bad for your ears. It's not going to hurt the car at all. If you wire them correctly, you're going to need bigger set of batteries and...
Car will not start. Will only move to ACC mode
This relates to a faulty mass air flow sensor (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/mass-airflow-sensor-replacement). This is a unit that monitors air intake into your engine as it is mixed with fuel prior to being injected into the motor. When this is not working properly,...
Noise coming from left front side after making a turn and accelerating
Hi there. It sounds like you may have an cv axle shaft that has excessive cv joint play and is making noise. Typically the cv joint makes noise during tight cornering with acceleration. Find an area that is safe to...
When we start the car, the engine shakes and makes a noise. In about 5 seconds, it cuts off. What's the problem?
In general, the engine vibration you're referring to is caused by a restriction of fuel flowing into the engine. This can be caused by dirty or clogged fuel injectors (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/what-causes-fuel-injectors-to-get-clogged-or-dirty), a bad idle control valve (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/idle-control-valve-replacement), or the throttle body...
my car makes. a loud thumping noise when I step on the gas
Hi there. It is possible that you may have damaged a CV joint or steering system component when the pole was struck. It is also possible that the wheel was bent which could cause this type of thumping noise as...
I have a 2017 Volkswagen Passat dome lights
There is usually a spring loaded switch in the door pillar. The switch contacts may be stuck closed even after you shut the door. If that is not the issue, and you were to request that a mechanic identify the...
When nearing low fuel, car will lose acceleration power, wheel will lock as well. Battery & Shift icon come on, has a few CEL's on
Hello, thank you for writing in. There is one major issue that is likely causing everything else you are experiencing. This is your fuel system. You need to start by checking and/or replacing your fuel pump. When it gets low,...
Car not starting. Shut down by security system !
Please refer to YourMechanic's on-line tutorial: How to Disable the Immobilizer (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-shut-off-the-anti-theft-device-in-your-car-by-jason-unrau). If those instructions do not resolve the issue, please request a no start diagnostic (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/car-is-not-starting-inspection) and the responding certified mechanic will get this diagnosed and resolved, right at...

Related articles

P0514 OBD-II Trouble Code: Battery Temperature Sensor Circuit Range/Performance
What What the P0514 code means The P0514 code indicates that there is a malfunction in the battery temperature sensor. What causes the P0514 code? There may be one or more causes for the P0514 code. One may be a...
P0734 OBD-II Trouble Code: Gear 4 Incorrect Ratio
P0734 code means there has been an abnormality detected in one of the automatic transmission gears often due too a faulty PCM, ECM, TCM or blockage.
P0539 OBD-II Trouble Code: A/C Evaporator Temperature Sensor Circuit Intermittent
P0539 means the A/C evaporator temperature sensor has a too high/low voltage signal, usually caused by a faulty evaporator temperature sensor.